A 


SERMON, 

PREACHED  AT  NEW  ARK, 

October  22d,  1S23, 


BEFORE  THE 


SYNOD  OF  NEW-JERSEY, 

FOR  THE  BENEFIT  OF  THE 


AFRICAN  SCHOOL, 

UNDER 

THE  CARE  OF  THE  SYNOD. 


i 

BY  SAMUEL  MILLER,  D.  D. 

PROFESSOR  IN  THF.  THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY  AT  PRINCETON. 


TRENTON, 

PRINTED  BY  GEORGE  SHERMAN . 

1823- 


Rev,  and  Dear  Sir,. 

THE  Synod  of  New- Jersey,  at  their  late  sessions,  in- 
structed the  Directors  of  the  School  to  express  their  thanks 
to  you,  for  the  Sermon  you  delivered  before  them  at  New- 
ark, on  the  22 d instant.  In  conformity  with  their  instruc- 
tions, the  Board  of  Directors  at  their  first  meeting,  resol- 
ved, “ That  their  President  and  Vice-President  be  a com- 
mittee to  present  the  thanks  of  the  Synod,  and  of  this 
Board , to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Miller,  for  the  Sermon  he  preach- 
ed before  the  Synod  of  Aew-  Jersey,  at  their  late  Sessions, 
in  favour  of  the  African  School,  and  to  request  of  him  a 
copy  of  the  Sermon  for  publication P In  discharging  this 
trust,  we  beg  leave  to  assure  you,  dear  sir,  of  the  hope  we 
entertain  that  the  publishing  your  sermon  may  be  a happy 
means  of  conciliating  the  feelings  of  our  fellow -citizens  of 
the  North  and  of  the  South,  on  a subject  on  which  both  are, 
perhaps , apt  to  be  too  sensitive ; and  of  the  individual  de- 
sire we  ourselves  feel  to  have  it  published. 

Very  respectfully  and  affectionately, 

Yours, 

Asa  Hillyer,  President. 

Amzi  Armstrong.  Vice  President. 

October  31s t,  1823. 

Rev.  Dr.  Miller. 


A SERMON 


Isaiah  LXI.  I. 

He  hath  sent  me  to  bind  up  the  broken  hearted , to  pro- 
claim liberty  to  the  captives , and  the  opening  of  the 
prison  to  them  that  are  bound. 

THE  history  of  slavery  is  one  of  the  most  melancholy 
chapters  in  the  history  of  man.  After  all  that  Poetry  and 
Oratory  have  done  to  portray  its  sin  and  misery,  they 
are  still  far  from  having  reached  the  enormity  of  the 
evil.  To  be  adequately  conceived,  it  must  not  only  he 
seen,  but  experienced,  in  all  its  frightful  realties.  Let  us 
try,  for  a moment,  to  make  the  case  our  own.  Suppose 
the  inhabitants  of  Europe  to  commence  the  practice  of 
sending  ships  to  our  coasts,  for  the  purpose  of  capturing 
and  bearing  away  into  slavery  the  citizens  of  this  free 
and  favoured  land.  Suppose  that,  by  no  law  but  that  of 
brutal  violence,  they  should  seize  our  children,  our  broth- 
ers, and  our  sisters,  and  transport  them  in  chains  to  their 
own  shores,  there  to  drag  out  life  in  hard  bondage,  and 
to  transmit  the  same  bondage  as  an  inheritance  to  their 
children.  With  what  feelings  should  we  contemplate 
such  a scene?  Does  the  very  thought  fill  us  with  hor- 
ror? Does  it  rouse  every  feeling  of  virtuous  indignation? 
u Whatsoever  ye  would  that  men  should  do  unto  you, 


4 


<<rdo  ye  even  so  to  them,  for  this  is  the  law  and  the  pro- 
ee  phets.” 

But  on  the  general  subject  of  slavery,  it  is  not  neces- 
sary to  enlarge  before  this  audience.  All  who  hear  me 
'will  be  ready  at  once  to  grant,  that,  considered  in  itself, 
it  is  unjust,  unreasonable,  inhuman,  contrary  to  all  the 
maxims  of  sound  policy,  as  hostile  to  the  best  interests 
of  those  who  inflict,  as  of  those  who  suffer  the  injury, 
and  especially  altogether  unworthy  of  a Christian  and  a 
Republican  community. 

The  evil,  however,  is  in  the  midst  of  us : it  exists,  at 
this  hour,  to  an  appalling  extent,  in  our  free  and  highly 
privileged  country.  It  was  entailed  upon  us  by  that  very 
Government,  which  has  so  often  since  reproached  us 
with  its  existence:  uay,  by  that  very  government,  which, 
while  she  reproaches  us,  and  sometimes  in  no  very  guard- 
ed or  temperate  language,  for  that  evil  which  she  may 
be  said  herself  to  have  created  and  fastened  upon  us, 
long  before  we  were  an  independent  people  ; is  not  only 
still  tolerating,  but  really  sanctioning,  the  very  same  evil, 
in  her  own  Colonies,  in  a far  more  horrid  form. — But 
peace  to  every  resentful  feeling  toward  our  venerated 
Mother!  We  have  been  partakers  with  her  in  error, 
and  in  its  fearful  consecpiences : And  no  one  wishes  more 
cordially  than  the  preacher,  that  we  may  both  see  our 
mistake,  and  wisely  retrace  our  steps ; and  that  hereaf- 
ter, to  the  end  of  time,  we  may  know  no  other  strife, 
than  that  which  is  prompted  by  the  mutual,  hallowed  em- 
ulation, to  excel  each  other  in  every  work  of  Christian 
benevolence. 

But  to  censure  others,  or  to  reproach  ourselves,  for 
the  past,  is  unavailing.  All  that  is  left  for  us  is  to  at- 
tempt something  for  the  time  to  come.  The  grand  ques- 


5 


non,  then  is,  what  remedy  shall  be  applied  to  the  great 
evil  of  which  we  speak.  In  answer  to  this  question,  I 
have  no  hope  of  heing  able  to  suggest  any  thing  either 
novel  to  any  of  my  hearers,  or  that  may  be  expected  to 
prove  at  once  effectual.  I can  only  say,  in  general,  that 
whatever  the  form  of  the  remedy  adopted  may  be,  it 
must  essentially  consist  in  applying  the  Religion  of 
Jesus  Christ  to  the  evil.  44  He  came  to  proclaim  liber- 
44  ty  to  the  captives,  and  the  opening  of  the  prison  to 
44  them  that  are  bound.”  This,  however,  you  have  often 
heard  before.  Yet  it  may  not  be  altogether  useless  to 
meditate  a little  on  an  old  and  well  known  truth.  And  if 
I shall  be  enabled  to  suggest  the  smallest  hint,  which 
may  be  the  means  of  either  informing  or  exciting  a sin- 
gle mind,  on  the  important  subject  before  us,  the  time 
we  spend  together  will  not  be  in  vain. 

And  here,  before  I come  to  that  part  of  the  discourse 
which  is  my  main  object,  allow  me  to  make  some  prelim- 
inary observations,  which  appear  to  me  to  have  an  im- 
portant bearing  on  the  subject  before  us. 

And  the  first  is,  that  no  advantage,  in  this  great  con 
cern,  is,  in  my  opinion,  to  be  gained  by  indulging  in  con- 
temptuous or  acrimonious  language  respecting  our  South- 
ren  Brethren,  who  are  more  largely  conversant  with  the 
evil  in  question,  and  more  immediately  and  deeply  con- 
cerned than  ourselves  in  applying  a proper  remedy. 
We  sometimes  hear  language  in  the  Eastern  and  Mid- 
dle sections  of  our  country,  in  regard  to  the  inhabitants 
of  the  principal  Slave  States,  as  they  are  called,  which 
is  calculated  deeply  to  wound  feelings,  and,  of  course  by 
no  means  adapted  to  the  promotion  of  harmony.  Is  this 
fraternal?  Is  it  wise?  Is  it  politick?  I really  think  not. 
I know  not  that  we  have  any  reason  to  consider  our 


6 


Southern  Neighbours  as  more  friendly  to  slavery,  in 
theory,  or  as  a system,  than  ourselves.  They  freely  ac- 
knowledge the  deplorable  character  of  the  evil,  as  it  ex 
ists  among  themselves.  They  lament  it:  they  mourn 
over  it ; and  give  every  evidence  that  they  desire,  as 
sincerely  as  we  desire,  to  apply  some  adequate  remedy 
to  the  acknowledged  calamity.  Are  they  even  essentially 
more  to  blame  for  the  existence  of  slavery  among  them- 
selves, than  the  inhabitants  of  the  Northern  and  Eastern 
States?  I apprehend  they  are  not.  For  it  was,  perhaps, 
chiefly  by  the  enterprize  of  Eastern  navigators  that  the 
slaves  were  transported  from  Africa , and  landed  on  their 
territory. 

It  cannot  be  denied,  indeed,  that  our  Southern  Breth- 
ren are  very  sensitive — extremely,  perhaps  excessively 
sensitive  on  this  subject.  But,  all  tilings  considered,  can 
we  wonder  at  this  ? Have  they  not  reason  to  feel  deeply 
on  the  subject?  Would  it  not  be  an  indication  of  blind- 
ness and  stupidity  truly  wonderful,  if  they  did  not  feel 
deeply  ? Were  we  in  their  situation,  have  we  reason  to 
believe  that  we  should  manifest  less  even  of  morbid  sen- 
sibility in  reference  to  an  object  so  highly  interesting  in 
its  aspect?  Let  us,  then,  ever  be  ready  to  make  allow- 
ance for  their  feelings,  to  treat  them  with  delicacy  and 
respect,  and  carefully  to  avoid  all  language  which  may 
tend  to  excite  unkind  sentiments,  or  to  exhibit  the  ap- 
pearance of  a divided  country.  The  evil  to  which  we  re- 
fer is  a national  evil;  and  there  ought  to  be  a nation- 
al feeling,  and  a national  effort  respecting  it.  Nor 
is  this  exhortation  to  cultivate  a conciliatory  spirit  in  re- 
lation to  such  a subject,  to  be  considered,  by  any  means, 
as  a mere  dictate  of  worldly  prudence.  I verily  believe, 
judging  from  the  language  of  the  New-Testament,  that 


7 


if  the  apostle  Paid  were  now  on  earth,  and  were  to  tra- 
vel in  the  Southern  States,  and  to  find  the  laws,  and  the 
condition  of  the  country  what  they  are,  he  would  uni- 
formly preach  and  converse  on  this  subject  in  a manner, 
which,  though  by  no  means  temporizing,  would  be  con- 
sidered as  kindly,  forbearing,  and  inoffensive  by  all  clas- 
ses of  the  people. 

My  second  preliminary  Remark  is,  that,  while  an  ade- 
quate and  an  early  remedy  for  the  multiplied  and  dread- 
ful evils  of  Slavery  is  earnestly  to  be  desired ; yet  we 
are  not  to  expect  that  any  human  means  can  be  found, 
which  will  put  an  end  to  these  evils  at  once.  Such  a large 
and  complicated  mass  of  evil  cannot  be  removed  in  a day, 
on  a month,  or  a year.  It  must  be  a work  of  time,  of  pa- 
tient labour,  and  of  large  expenditure.  We  must  pay, 
and  pay  much,  as  the  penalty  of  our  dreadful  mistake 
and  folly;  and  well  will  it  be  for  us,  if  we  can  obtain  de- 
liverance from  it  almost  at  any  price.  Some  have  been  so 
inconsiderate  as  to  maintain,  that  because  slavery  is,  in 
all  cases,  an  evil,  that,  therefore,  it  ought  to  be  abolish 
ed  at  a stroke,  and  every  slave  in  our  land  made  free 
in  a day.  But  the  idea  of  liberating,  and  turning  loose 
on  society,  at  once,  a million  and  a half  of  slaves, 
with  all  the  ignorance  and  depravity  to  which  their  bon- 
dage has  contributed  to  reduce  them,  would  surely  be 
the  extravagance,  or  rather  the  cruelty  of  benevolence. 
It  would  be  to  bring,  not  merely  on  the  White  popula- 
tion, but  on  the  slaves  themselves,  thus  suddenly 
liberated  without  being  prepared  for  it,  an  accumula- 
ted curse  under  the  name  and  guise  of  a blessing.  It 
is  of  the  utmost  importance,  then,  and  ought  to  engage 
the  earnest  attention  of  every  friend  of  African  emanci- 
pation, that  measures  be  taken  to  accomplish  it  gradu- 


8 


ally  ; and  that,  in  the  mean  while,  those  who  are  in  sla- 
very, be  favoured  with  a gradual  increase  of  intel- 
lectual and  moral  culture,  and  at  the  same  time, 
with  a gradual  extension  of  privilege,  which  will 
have  a happy  tendency,  and  indeed,  be  indispensable, 
to  prepare  them  for  the  comfortable  enjoyment  of  free- 
dom. 

My  third  and  last  Preliminary  Remark  is,  that  all 
hope  of  essentially  meliorating  the  condition  of  the  Afri- 
cans, or  the  descendants  of  the  Africans,  in  our  land,  in 
any  other  way  than  by  means  of  the  Religion  of  Jesus 
Christ,  is  perfectly  vain.  It  is  only  by  the  power  of 
this  blessed  Religion,  that  the  “ oppressed”  can  really 
be  “ made  free,”  and  “ every  yoke  be  broken.”  If 
“ Christ  make  any  free,  they  are  free  indeed.”  And 
until  He  does  make  them  free,  their  freedom  will  be  only 
nominal  and  worthless.  His  Spirit  alone  can  break  the 
chains  of  sin  ; can  alone  transform  the  soul  into  his  own 
image  ; can  alone  bring  it  into  the  “ glorious  liberty  of 
the  children  of  God can  alone  prepare  those  who  arc 
in  thraldom  to  be  “ free,  and  not  to  use  their  liberty  as 
a cloak  of  maliciousness,  but  as  the  servants  of  Jesus 
Christ.”  This  is  plainly  attested  by  the  word  of  God, 
and  uniformly  confirmed  by  all  experience.  As  well 
might  we  attempt  to  controul  the  raging  elements  by  a 
breath,  as  to  form  and  regulate  the  moral  and  social  cha- 
racter of  man,  without  the  Word  and  the  Spirit  of  Him 
who  has  the  hearts  of  all  flesh  in  his  hands,  and  can  “turn 
them  whithersoever  he  will,  as  the  rivers  of  water  are 
turned.” 

Having  premised  these  Remarks,  I proceed  to  point 
out  some  of  those  things  which  appear  to  me  best  adapt- 
ed to  effect  our  gradual  deliverance  from  that  deplora- 


9 


ble  evil  which  we  are  considering.  After  having  done 
this,  I propose  to  apply  the  subject  more  particularly 
to  the  occasion  on  which  we  are  now  convened. 

I.  And  first;  I venture  to  assert,  that  every  thing 
that  is  done  to  elevate  the  intellectual,  moral, 

AND  RELIGIOUS  CHARACTER  OF  AFRICANS,  AND  THE  DE- 
SCENDANTS OF  AFRICANS  IN  OUR  COUNTRY,  is  SO  much 

done  toward  the  abolition  of  slavery  in  the  United  States. 

One  of  the  most  serious  obstacles  to  the  immediate  1 
emancipation  of  slaves,  in  this  or  any  other  country,  is 
that  they  are  not  prepared  for  the  enjoyment  of  freedom. 
They  are  not,  indeed,  by  nature,  more  depraved  than 
others;  and,  for  one,  I am  persuaded  that  their  native 
talents  are  as  good  as  those  of  white  men.  But  their  sit- 
uation has  a natural  tendency  to  degrade  both  their 
intellectual  and  moral  character.  If,  in  their  condition, 
cut  olf  from  all  the  advantages  of  freemen,  they  should 
possess  the  mental  vigour  and  acuteness,  the  high  sense 
of  character,  and  the  moral  restraints  and  regular- 
ity of  freemen,  it  would,  indeed,  be  little  short  of  mi- 
racle. If  we  desire,  then,  to  prepare  the  way  for  their 
happy  emancipation,  at  the  proper  time,  let  all  who  have 
the  controul  of  their  time  and  services,  direct  the  most 
serious  and  pointed  attention  to  the  cultivation  of  their 
minds,  and  especially  to  their  moral  culture.  Let  them 
be  taught  to  read  God’s  holy  Word.  Let  them  be  col- 
lected, at  proper  seasons,  and  instructed  faithfully  in 
the  doctrines  and  duties  of  our  holy  Religion.  Let  them 
be  encouraged  to  attend  with  punctuality  at  our  places 
of  publick  worship.  Let  religious  Tracts , particularly 
adapted  to  their  character  and  situation,  be  prepared 
and  printed  for  their  use,  and  circulated  extensively 
among  them.  Let  their  Children  be  solemnly  dedicated 
to  God  in  Baptism,  either  in  their  own  right,  if  they  be 

B 


10 


of  a proper  character;  or  in  the  right  of  their  masters 
or  mistresses,  if  pious.  Let  them  be  encouraged  to  be- 
come members  of  the  Church  in  full  communion.  In 
short,  let  the  object  be  to  labour  without  ceasing,  and  by 
all  appointed  means,  to  enlighten  and  impress  their 
minds;  to  give  them  a deep  sense  of  moral  obligation: 
to  win  them  to  the  love  of  the  Saviour;  and  to  bind  them 
to  the  Church  of  God,  and  to  all  around  them,  by  ties 
which  the  Religion  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  that  alone,  can 
create,  and  make  men  to  feel. 

To  these  means  of  promoting  the  moral  and  spiritual 
welfare  of  slaves,  it  may  not  be  improper  to  add,  what 
was  before  hinted, — a gradual  extension  of  their 
fersonal  and  domestick  privileges.  By  this  I mean, 
allowing  those  who  are  faithful,  a portion  of  ground  to 
cultivate  for  themselves,  and  certain  hours  in  every  week 
for  performing  the  necessary  labour  upon  it,  without  in- 
fringing on  the  sanctity  of  the  sabbath;  or,  in  some  other- 
way,  putting  within  their  reach  the  means  of  acquiring  a 
little  property  of  their  own.  The  benefits  of  this  indul- 
gence are  numerous.  It  gratifies  the  minds  of  those  who 
possess  it.  It  gives  them  a sense  of  personal  importance 
and  responsibility.  It  binds  them  to  their  wives  and  chil- 
dren, for  whose  benefit  they  feel  that  they  are  labouring. 
And  it  insensibly  excites  them  to  industry,  economy,  or- 
der, and  prudence  in  their  affairs.  It  is  pleasing  to  be 
informed,  that  privileges  of  this  kind  are  not  uncommon 
in  the  Southern  States,  and  even  in  the  West-India  isl- 
ands: and  it  seems  impossible  to  doubt  that  every  en- 
lightened and  prudent  extension  of  them  will  be  benefi- 
cial both  to  the  master  and  the  slave. 

I am  aware  that  some  owners  of  slaves  have  entertain- 
ed the  opinion,  that  cultivating  their  minds,  or  extending 


11 


their  privileges,  has  a tendency  to  promote  idleness, 
insubordination,  and  a spirit  of  mutiny  among  them.  And 
I am  ready  to  admit,  that  all  that  culture  or  indulgence 
which  leaves  Religion  out  of  the  question,  will  be  like- 
ly to  be,  not  only  useless,  but  pernicious.  I am  ready  also 
to  admit,  that  where  that  which  is  taught  under  the 
name  of  Religion,  is  unscriptural  and  false,  it  will  be 
proportionally  unhappy  in  its  consequences.  But  to  sup- 
pose that  genuine  Religion  can  be  productive  of  any 
other  than  benign  effects;  to  suppose  that  the  spirit  of 
the  Gospel,  which  is  a spirit  of  benevolence,  of  meekness, 
of  submission  to  the  will  of  Providence,  of  forgiveness, 
and  of  contentment,  can,  in  itself,  tend  to  produce  turbu- 
lence, violence,  and  a spirit  of  insurrection, — would  be  to 
admit  the  greatest  of  all  absurdities.  No;  the  language 
of  the  New-Testament,  and  the  language  of  every  en- 
lightened, faithful  expounder  of  it  is,  “Servants  be  obe- 
“ dient  to  them  that  are  your  masters  according  to  the 
••flesh;  not  with  eye-service,  as  men-pleasers,  but  as  the 
“ servants  of  Christ,  doing  the  will  of  God  from  the 
heart.’’  And  again?  “Exhort  servants  to  be  obedient 
•'•  unto  their  own  masters,  and  to  please  them  well  in  all 
“things,  not  answering  again,  not  purloining ; butshew- 
“ ing  all  good  fidelity,  that  they  may  adorn  the  doctrine  of 
••'God  our  Saviour  in  all  things.”* 

Anti,  accordingly,  my  confident  impression  is,  that  all 
experience,  as  well  as  all  reasoning,  speaks  in  favour  of 
the  plan  of  evangelizing  those  who  are  in  servitude.  Go 
to  those  parts  of  the  world  where  the  Gospel,  in  any 
thing  like  its  purity,  is  constantly  and  faithfully  preached 
to  slaves;  and  you  will  invariably  find  them  more  indus- 
trious, more  docile,  more  orderly,  more  faithful,  and  their 

* Rftheuatut  ri  5,6.  Titus  n 9,10 


12 


labour  far  more  productive  to  their  owners,  than  au 
equal  mass  of  those  who  are  destitute  of  this  privilege. 
Of  this,  the  large  number  of  slaves  who  are  under  the 
care  of  the  Moravian , and  other  pious  Missionaries,  in 
several  of  the  IVest-India  islands,  afford  a most  striking 
and  happy  example ; — so  striking,  indeed,  if  I am  not 
misinformed,  as  thoroughly  to  have  convinced  a number 
of  Masters,  who  once  violently  opposed  the  evangelical 
instruction  of  their  slaves,  that  they  had  been  in  error, 
and  constrained  them  to  encourage  preachers  to  go  among 
them,  and  proclaim  to  them  the  Word  of  Life.  Nor  can 
slave-holders,  assuredly,  in  any  part  of  the  world,  take 
a course  more  directly  calculated  to  make  their  slaves 
quiet,  submissive,  diligent  and  faithful,  than  by  having 
the  genuine  Gospel  of  Christ  continually  and  affection- 
ately preached  to  them.  Wherever  a contrary  course  is 
pursued,  it  undoubtedly  arises,  either  from  hostility 
to  Religion,  or  from  the  want  of  correct  information, 
or  from  both. 

It  is  no  valid  argument  against  this  reasoning,  to  say, 
that  in  some  signal  attempts  at  insurrection  and  violence 
on  the  part  of  large  bodies  of  slaves,  some  regularly  in- 
structed, and  even  apparently  serious  professors  of  reli- 
gion, have  been  among  the  most  determined  leaders  of 
the  shocking  plan.  We  all  know  the  difference  between 
nominal  and  real  Christians.  We  all  know,  too,  how  far 
the  minds  of  men  who  appear  to  be  otherwise  conscien- 
tious, may  be  led  astray  by  fanatical  delusion ; especial- 
ly when  their  instruction  has  been  contracted  or  errone- 
ous, and,  of  course,  liable  to  be  perverted  into  an  instru- 
ment of  delusion:  and  when  the  great  principles  of  Re- 
ligion, however  respectfully  believed,  have,  in  a very 
small  degree,  if  at  all,  taken  hold  of  the  heart. — But  pi 


13 


ety,  when  it  is  genuine  and  enlightened,  forms,  not  mere- 
ly the  best,  but  I will  venture  to  say,  the  only  effec- 
tual barrier  against  those  violent  and  unlawful  as- 
sumptions of  liberty,  to  which  other  kinds  of  instruction, 
unaccompanied  by  Religion,  are  apt  to  lead.  When, 
therefore,  I shall  see  the  culture,  and  especially  the  mo- 
ral and  religious  culture,  of  our  black  and  coloured  pop* 
illation  made  an  object  of  serious  and  general  attention; 
when  I shall  see  a united  and  vigorous  effort  among 
Christians,  gradually  to  raise  their  intellectual  and  mo- 
ral character,  and  thus  to  prepare  them,  in  process  of 
time,  to  act  their  part  as  freemen;  I shall  begin  to  think 
that  the  gracious  Governor  of  the  world  is  preparing  the 
way  to  deliver  us  from,  perhaps,  the  most  dreadful  and 
appalling  evil  that  hangs  over  our  land. 

II.  Every  thing  that  is  done  towards  effectually  pro- 
moting the  plan  of  the  American  Society  for  coloni- 
zing OUR  FREE  BLACKS,  AND  PEOPLE  OF  COLOUR  IN  AF- 
RICA, will  also  be,  in  my  opinion,  so  much  done  toward 
the  abolition  of  slavery,  not  only  in  our  own  country,  but 
throughout  the  world. 

I shall  here,  take  for  granted,  that  the  Africans  and 
their  descendants,  in  our  country,  even  if  they  were  all 
at  this  hour  liberated,  could  never  be  either  respecta- 
ble or  happy  in  the  midst  of  a white  population.  They  can 
never,  while  publick  sentiment  remains  what  it  is,  asso- 
ciate with  the  whites  on  terms  of  equality.  They  may  be 
industrious,  and  regular;  they  may  be  enterprizing,  suc- 
cessful in  business,  and  exhibit  talents,  knowledge  and 
wealth;  but,  after  all,  they  can  never  associate  with  the 
whites  on  terms  comfortable  to  either.  They  will  be  trea- 
ted and  they  will  feel  as  inferiors.  They  cannot  live  un- 
der the  influence  of  that  sense  of  character,  of  those  ex- 


14 


citements  to  aim  at  a high  standing  in  society,  which  op- 
erate upon  a corresponding  number  of  white  people.  And 
as  they  cannot  fail  to  have  a degraded  standing , so  this 
will  confer  upon  them,  in  a greater  or  less  degree,  a de- 
graded character.  Place  any  number  of  human  beings, 
of  whatever  complexion,  in  a situation  in  which  they  can 
never  aspire  to  an  equality  with  those  around  them,  and 
you  take  away  from  them  one  of  the  main  excitements  to 
industry,  to  honourable  enterprize,  and  to  emulation  of 
excellence.  They  will  lose  their  own  respect;  and  when 
that  is  gone,  all  is  gone. 

And  as  this  class  of  people  could  not  be  either  respec- 
table or  happy,  if  liberated  and  left  among  the  whites: 
so,  as  neighbours,  they  would  be  a constant  source  of  an- 
noyance, of  corruption,  and  of  danger  to  the  w hites  them- 
selves. Suppose  a million  and  a half  of  such  people  scat- 
tered through  the  United  States.  They  could  never  be 
trusted  as  faithful  citizens.  They  would  never  feel  that 
their  interests  and  those  of  the  whites  w'ere  precisely 
the  same.  Each  wrould  regard  the  other  with  painful  sus- 
picion and  apprehension.  On  the  one  hand,  those  who 
had  lately  been  slaves,  or  who  had  descended  from  slaves, 
would  consider  every  advantage  they  could  take  of  their 
former  masters,  as  so  much  fair  gain,  and  would,  there- 
fore, be  apt,  as  far  as  possible,  habitually  to  prey  upon 
them.  On  the  other  hand,  the  whites  wrould  be  tempted, 
and  could  hardly  fail,  to  cherish  sentiments  toward  their 
coloured  neighbours,  in  a great  measure  inconsistent  with 
liberal,  kind,  or  even  just  treatment ; and  would  seldom 
think  of  any  tiling  but  rendering  them  subservient  to 
their  pleasures,  their  pride  or  their  avarice.  In  short, 
they  would  be  mutual  sources  of  corruption,  of  danger, 
and  of  trouble  to  each  other.  It  would  be  impossible  for 


15 


them  to  be  safe,  pure,  or  happy  together.  It  is,  of 
course,  essential  to  the  interest  of  each  that  they  be  sep- 
arated ; and  separated  to  such  a distance  from  each  oth- 
er, as  to  render  intercourse  very  seldom  practicable — If 
this  be  so,  then  the  Coloured  people  must  be  colo- 
nized. In  other  words,  they  must  be  severed  from 
the  white  population,  and  sent  to  some  distant  part  of 
the  world,  where  they  will  be  in  no  danger  either  of  suf- 
fering themselves,  or  of  inflicting  on  others,  the  evils  al- 
ready described ; where  they  can  live  as  a sepa- 
rate, independent  people  ; and  where  they  will  have 
every  excitement  and  every  opportunity,  to  cultivate 
those  moral,  social,  political  and  Christian  virtues,  which 
will  be  likely  to  raise  them  to  comfort,  honour  and 
strength.  If  we  desire  to  consult  their  temporal  and 
eternal  well  being,  this  must  be  done:  and  if  we 
would  consult  our  own  interest  and  happiness,  it  is 
equally  necessary  that  it  be  done.  I acknowledge  that 
to  me,  there  appears  no  other  practicable  method  of 
averting,  without  a miracle,  the  most  dreadful  conse- 
quences, than  that  of  gradually  drawing  off*  the  African 
population,  by  a colonizing  plan,  under  some  form  ; and 
the  form  proposed,  is,  in  my  view,  more  feasible  than 
any  other  that  has  yet  been  suggested.* 

* It  may  not  be  improper  to  state,  that  the  venerable  General  Assembly 
of  our  Church,  in  the  year  1819,  and  also  in  1823,  have  unequivocally  and 
strongly  expressed  an  opinion  in  favour  of  the  plan  of  the  Colonization  Soci- 
ety They  have  declared,  that  they  not  only  consider  the  plan  as  benevolent 
in  its  design  ; but  also  as  calculated,  if  properly  carried  into  execution,  to 
be  extensively  useful  both  to  this  country  and  to  .Africa  ; that  it  may  promote 
the  happiness  of  the  Colonists  ; that  it  may  be  made  a powerful  auxiliary  in 
the  efforts  which  are  making  to  abolish  the  slave  trade;  that  it  may  promote 
the  gradual  emancipation  of  slaves  among  ourselves  ; and  that  it  may  be  the 
means  of  introduce  g civilization  and  Christianity  to  the  benighted  African 
nations.  With  these  views,  the  Assembly  recommend  the  Society  to  the 
patronage  and  attention  of  the  Churches  under  their  care,  and  to  benevolent 
individuals  throughout  the  United  State-.  Seethe  Proceedings  of  the  General 
1 Assembly  for  1819  and  1823. — 


16 


I know,  indeed,  that  to  the  plan  of  establishing  a 
Colony  on  the  coast  of  Africa , a number  of  objections 
have  been  made.  Of  this  number  I shall  select  and  en- 
deavour to  obviate  those  which  appear  to  me  most  plau- 
sible and  imposing. 

And  the  first  that  I shall  mention  is  urged  with  great 
confidence.  It  is  said  i(  The  Colony  will  not  only  be  in 
jeopardy  every  hour,  but  will  certainly  fall  an  easy  and 
a speedy  prey  to  the  surrounding  native  tribes.”  The 
force  of  this  objection,  it  is  plain,  depends  entirely  upon 
the  situation  of  the  Colony  itself.  If  its  founders  intend, 
beforehand,  to  leave  it  a small,  feeble,  defenceless,  dis- 
couraged starveling,  why,  then,  indeed,  it  will  be  in 
constant  danger  : nay,  to  hope  that  it  will  escape  the 
predatory  and  murderous  invasions  of  the  surrounding 
natives,  would  be  altogether  unreasonable.  But  if  the 
Colony  be  amply  encouraged,  and  made,  without  delay, 
what  it  ought  to  be, — powerful,  well  provided,  and  com- 
petently fortified ; it  may  be  considered  as  safe  from 
any  serious  attack  ; or,  if  attacked,  as  likely,  to  be  able, 
under  Providence,  to  repel  any  force  that  can  be  reason- 
ably expected  to  come  against  it.  In  fact,  humanly 
speaking,  we  may  be  said  to  hold  in  our  own  hands  the 
condition  and  prospects  of  the  Colony,  as  to  the  force  of 
this  objection ; and  may  easily  make  it,  either  by  private 
exertion,  or  by  Governmental  aid,  what  may  be  called 
impregnable  against  all  human  foes.  But  it  ought  not  to 
be  left  to  private  exertion.  The  evil  which  it  is  intended 
to  remedy,  is,  as  I before  observed,  a national  one  ; 
and  it  demands,  and  ought  to  rouse,  a national  effort 

FOR  ITS  REMOVAL. 

. But,  another  objection,  still  more  frequently  and  seri- 
ously urged,  is  that  which  is  drawn  from  the  alleged 


17 


PESTILENTIAL  CHARACTER  OF  THE  CLIMATE, “The 

Colonists,”  say  some,  “ will  all  perish  with  disease,  as 
“ fast  as  they  land  on  those  tropical  shores.” — This  is, 
undoubtedly,  a very  serious  consideration ; and  if  it  real- 
ly be  as  alleged,  presents  an  objection  of  the  most  formi- 
dable kind  against  the  proposed  plan. — But,  after  weigh- 
ing this  objection  with  care,  I am  constrained  to  pro 
nounce  it  by  no  means  insurmountable.  For, 

In  the  first  place,  if  the  site  which  has  been  selected 
for  the  Colony,  will  not  answer  the  purpose,  let  another 
be  immediately  chosen.  If  worldly  men,  in  seeking  world- 
ly gain,  find  themselves  baffled  in  one  place,  they  go 
elsewhere,  and  make  effort  after  effort,  until  they  suc- 
ceed, if  success  be  attainable.  And  is  not  the  great  ob- 
ject of  benevolence  of  which  we  are  speaking  worthy  of 
being  sought  with  the  same  untiring  perseverance?  If 
the  spot  in  Africa  already  selected  be  found  incurably 
pestilential,  let  it  be  abandoned,  and  another  procured, 
more  remote  from  the  Equator,  and  less  likely  to  destroy 
life.  The  object  is,  surely,  worthy  of  all  the  labour  and 
expense  which  can  well  be  employed  in  its  accomplish- 
ment. And  if  no  such  place  can  be  found  in  Africa,  let 
one  be  sought  in  some  other  part  of  the  world.  It  ill  be- 
comes men  in  earnest,  and  men  impelled  by  the  noble 
principles  of  Christian  benevolence,  to  despond  after  a 
single  trial.  But, 

Secondly ; the  trial  has  not  yet  been  fairly  made.  To 
take  for  granted,  from  what  has  occurred,  that  cape  Mont - 
serado  cannot  be  inhabited  by  Africans,  or  the  descend- 
ants of  Africans,  is,  in  my  opinion,  a rash  and  unwar- 
ranted conclusion.  If  I am  not  misinformed,  the  natives 
of  the  country  enjoy  a large  share  of  robust  health.  This 
fact  certainly  affords  no  small  presumption  that  the  Col- 

c 


18 


onists  will  enjoy  the  same,  when  they  become  inured  to 
the  climate.  Have  not  many  thousands  of  healthy  slaves 
been  transported  from  those  regions  of  Africa , to  the 
American  continent,  and  to  the  West- India  islands,  and 
still  left  the  country  well  stocked  with  inhabitants  ? Does 
this  look  like  a country  incurably  pestilential  ? Besides  ; 
new  settlements  seldom  escape  epidemick  sickness.  When 
the  venerable  settlers  of  New- England,  (men  whose 
names  ought  never  to  be  mentioned  without  some  epi- 
thet of  honour)  first  landed  in  that  country,  and  for  a 
number  of  years  afterwards,  they  were  greatly  distres- 
sed by  the  prevalence  of  pestilential  and  mortal  disease. 
What  had  been  the  consequence  if  they  had  become  dis- 
couraged, and  abandoned  the  country  ? But  they  were 
not  utterly  discouraged.  With  a fortitude,  constancy,  and 
trust  in  God,  which  did  them  immortal  honor,  and  in  which 
our  whole  western  world  has  reason,  at  this  hour,  to  re- 
joice, they  maintained  their  ground,  and  were  so  happy 
as  to  find,  in  a few  years,  that,  as  they  made  progress 
in  diligent  culture,  and  in  wise  precaution,  under  the 
Divine  blessing,  pestilence  disappeared,  and  left  them  in 
the  enjoyment  of  as  much  health  as  usually  falls  to  the 
lot  of  any  portion  of  our  globe. 

And,  in  like  manner,  there  seems  little  reason  to  doubt, 
that,  when  more  enlightened  caution  shall  be  exercised 
as  to  the  season  of  the  year,  in  which  the  emigrants  shall 
land  on  those  shores ; when  more  vigilant  care  shall  be 
taken  to  guard  against  the  effects  of  the  climate ; when 
more  maturity  of  system  shall  place  within  the  reach  of 
the  Colonists,  a larger  number  of  those  comforts , partic- 
ularly of  shelter  and  food,  which  are  favourable  to  health; 
and  when  the  territory  assigned  to  the  Colony  shall  re- 
ceive that  cultivation  which  it  will  of  course  receive,  in 


19 


the  progress  of  the  settlement ; — then,  I think,  we  may 
confidently  hope  that  it  will  be  found  at  least  as  health 
ful  as  many  of  those  districts  in  the  United  States,  in 
which  a large  coloured  population  now  reside  with  entire 
safety; — and  certainly  quite  as  salubrious  as  the  best 
climates  in  the  West-Inclia  islands,  where  the  natives  of 
Africa  and  their  descendants  have  long  lived  without 
any  special  danger  of  disease.  We  shall  utterly  deceive 
ourselves,  then,  I am  persuaded,  if  we  suffer  the  alarm 
arising  from  a temporary  adverse  dispensation,  to  alie- 
nate us  from  a plan  which  promises  a more  favourable 
result  than  any  other  that  has  been  hitherto  proposed. 

With  respect  to  a third  objection  to  the  colonizing  plan, 
namely,  “ that  it  is  intended,  by  its  most  active  South- 
“ ern  friends,  as  a means  of  perpetuating,  rather  than  of 
abolishing  slavery  it  appears  to  me  unworthy  of  se- 
rious consideration.  The  suggestion  is,  that  the  slave- 
holders consider  the  free  blacks,  and  free  people  of  co- 
lour in  the  United  States,  as  a species  of  population 
more  injurious  in  their  influence  on  the  character  of 
slaves  than  any  other ; as  peculiarly  fitted  to  poison  their 
minds  with  false  ideas,  and  to  render  them  dissatisfied 
with  their  situation  : that,  such  being  their  impressions, 
they  are  are  anxious  to  have  all  such  liberated  persons 
removed  from  the  country  : and  that  the  plan  of  African 
colonization  is  nothing  more  than  a scheme  to  effect  this 
removal,  that  the  owners  of  slaves  may  be  the  better  able 
to  hold  them  in  undisturbed  and  perpetual  bondage. 
That  there  are  no  individuals  foolish  and  unprincipled 
enough  to  make  this  calculation,  and  to  favour  the  pro- 
posed Colony,  because  they  hope  such  will  be  its  effect, 
I will  not  undertake  to  affirm.  It  is  even  probable  that 
there  are  such  individuals.  But  no  one  who  has  attend- 


ed  to  the  origin  and  history  of  the  plan,  with  any  degree 
of  impartiality,  can  possibly,  I think,  admit  the  imputa- 
tion of  which  I speak,  as  applicable  to  the  mass,  and  es- 
pecially to  the  most  respectable,  of  its  friends  and  promo- 
ters. They  reside,  let  it  be  remembered,  in  all  parts  of 
the  United  States.  Many  of  them  are  among  the  warm- 
est friends  of  African  emancipation  that  our  country 
contains ; men  whose  character  is  an  ample  pledge  to  all 
who  know  them,  of  the  rectitude  and  benevolence  of  their 
purposes : and  a number  of  the  most  wealthy  slave-hol- 
ders in  the  South,  we  are  assured,  are  only  waiting  for 
the  opportunity,  which  the  execution  of  this  plan,  upon  a 
large  scale,  would  afford  them,  for  liberating  all  their 
slaves.*  Were  not  these  considerations  taken  together 
a sufficient  guarantee  of  honest  intention  in  the  case  be- 
fore us ; I might  add,  that  even  if  the  greater  part,  or 
all  of  the  professed  friends  of  the  Colonizing  plan,  were 
known  to  be  lying  in  wait  to  make  this  plan  a means  of 
riveting  and  perpetuating  the  chains  of  slavery  ; — there 
is  a force  in  the  publick  sentiment  which  has  begun 
its  march  on  this  subject,  which  will  prostrate  every  dis- 
honest policy,  and  render  the  plan,  with  whatever  mo- 
tives it  may  be  aided  by  some,  effectual  in  advancing  the 
glorious  object  at  which  it  professes  to  aim ; and  at 
which  there  is  no  doubt  that  a large  number  of  the  lead- 
ers of  publick  opinion  in  the  South,  as  well  as  in  the 
North,  do  sincerely  aim. 

But  even  supposing  that  the  plan  of  the  Colony  should 
never  actually  embrace  any  others  than  those  blacks,  and 
people  of  colour,  who  are  now  free,  or  who  may  iiere- 

* U is  not  perhaps  generally  known,  that  in  most  of  the  Southern  States,  the 
laws,  at  present,  prohibit  the  emancipation  of  slaves  ; and  that  those  who  have  been 
emancipated  in  time  past,  in  those  states,  are,  with  scarcely  any  exception,  the  most 
corrupt,  degraded  and  miserable  portion  of  the  community. 


21 


after  become  free,  by  the  unavoidable  operation  of 
existing  laws.  Will  this  be  an  object  of  small  importance 
in  the  eye  of  the  philanthropist  and  the  Christian?  Will 
sending  two  hundred  and  fifty,  or  three  hundred 
thousand  souls — all  of  them  nominal,  and  a large  num- 
ber of  them,  we  may  hope,  real  disciples  of  Jesus  Christ, 
and  acquainted  with  the  arts  of  civilized  life,  to  Africa, 
be  likely  to  have  no  effect  in  civilizing  and  evangelizing 
that  benighted  country  ? Is  it  a matter  of  no  interest  to 
the  benevolent  and  pious  mind,  that  we  may  thus  most 
effectually  repair  the  multiplied  wrongs  we  have  done  to 
Africa  ? Magnify  the  dangers  and  sacrifices  involved  in 
making  this  reparation  as  much  as  you  please,  ought  we, 
on  this  account,  to  shrink  from  the  enterprize?  Is  the 
European  and  American  merchant  found  willing  to  go  in 
pursuit  of  gain,  to  those  regions  in  Africa  and  Asia , 
where  a large  majority  of  adventurers  are,  generally, 
before  the  end  of  the  year,  numbered  with  the  dead? 
and  shall  Christian  heroism  refuse  to  encounter  dan- 
gers and  sacrifices  unspeakably  less,  when  the  object  is, 
to  deliver  our  own  Country  from  the  greatest  curse  that 
ever  rested  upon  it ; to  raise  to  virtue  and  happiness  a 
large  mass  of  our  own  population,  who  cannot  be  expect- 
ed to  attain  either  in  the  place  of  their  present  residence ; 
and,  at  the  same  time,  to  convey  the  blessings  of  Civili- 
zation and  Christianity  to  millions  who  inhabit  the  dark- 
est quarter  of  our  globe  ? 

This  subject  addresses  itself 

1.  To  all  the  Africans,  and  descendants  of  Afri- 
cans in  the  United  States.  Had  I a voice  that  could  be 
heard  by  every  individual  of  this  class  in  our  Country, 
whether  bond  or  free,  I would  say  to  them  in  the  ful- 


22 


ness  of  a heart  most  tenderly  concerned  for  their  wel- 
fare— Brethren,  if  you  desire  to  promote  your  own  tem- 
poral as  well  as  eternal  welfare  ; — if  you  desire  to  has- 
ten, as  much  as  possible,  the  termination  of  slavery  in 
the  United  States ; — if,  in  short,  you  desire  to  elevate 
the  character,  and  to  promote  the  happiness  of  your 
brethren  generally,  and  thus  to  confer  the  greatest  pos- 
sible benefit  on  one  another,  on  your  children,  and  your 
children’s  children,  to  the  latest  generations ; — then  be 
sober;  be  virtuous ; be  pious;  be  obedient  to  your  own 
Masters  according  to  the  flesh  ; be  content  with  your 
lot,  until  the  Providence  of  God  open  a way  for  your  be- 
ing placed  in  a more  eligible  situation  ; study  sincerely 
to  promote  the  best  interests  of  those  in  whose  service 
you  are  placed ; be  modest,  humble,  unobtrusive,  and 
never  for  a moment  forget  that  station  which  the  Provi- 
dence of  God  has  assigned  you.  In  a word,  study  to  cul- 
tivate, and  constantly  to  exhibit  in  your  temper  and 
practice,  the  meek,  lowly,  pure,  benevolent  graces  of  the 
Religion  of  Jesus  Christ.  Thus  will  you  most  effectually 
promote  your  own  benefit,  and  the  benefit  of  all  around 
you.  Thus  will  you  most  certainly  and  happily  contri- 
bute your  part  to  “ proclaim  liberty  to  the  captives,  and 
the  opening  of  the  prison  to  them  that  are  bound.” 
When,  therefore,  I hear  of  profligate  conduct,  among 
the  children  of  Africa  in  our  country.  When  I hear  of 
their  being  intemperate,  lewd,  disobedient,  depredating 
on  the  property  of  their  masters,  turbulent,  or  manifest- 
ing deep  moral  depravity  of  any  kind  ; — I am  ready  to 
exclaim,  O the  folly,  the  infatuation,  as  well  as  the  wick- 
edness of  this  course  ! Every  such  instance,  my  coloured 
friends,  is  not  only  a sin  against  God,  and  a sin  against 
yourselves;  but  also  a sin  most  mischievous  in  its  influ 


23 


ence  with  respect  to  all  your  coloured  brethren.  Every 
such  instance  adds  to  the  publick  prejudice  against  the 
liberation  of  slaves,  and  retards  the  accomplishment  of 
that  event.  Every  such  instance,  not  only  tends  to  de- 
grade the  character  of  the  individuals  who  are  thus  guil- 
ty ; but  also  to  rivet  the  chains  of  those  who  are  still  in 
bondage ; to  paralize  every  effort  for  raising  your  char- 
acter, for  extending  your  privileges,  and  for  promoting 
your  real  happiness. 

But  especially,  when  I hear  of  conspiracies  and  in- 
surrections among  the  black  population  in  the  Slave 
States,  I am  filled  with  amazement  as  well  as  horror  at 
the  COMPLICATED  FOLLY  OF  THE  UNDERTAKING  ! All 


such  attempts,  while  they  doubtless  alarm  and  distress 
the  whites,  injure,  an  hundred  fold  more,  the  slaves  and 
all  the  coloured  people  themselves.  It  is  impossible  for 
such  attempts  finally  to  succeed.  It  is  the  interest,  and 
certainly  would  be  the  prompt  and  determined  task,  of 
the  inhabitants  of  the  Northern,  as  well  as  of  the  South- 
ern States,  instantly  to  put  them  down.  They  must,  in 
all  cases,  terminate,  not  only  in  the  destruction  of  the 
guilty  insurgents,  but  also  in  the  more  deep  and  heavy 
bondage  of  their  brethren.* 


* The  author  takes  pleasure  in  introducing’  in  this  place  an  extract  from  a 
very  spirited  and  able  “ Review  of  the  Reports  of  the  Colonization  Society,” 
contained  in  the  Christian  Spectator,  a periodical  work,  published  at  JVew- 
Haven,  and  conducted  with  an  ability  too  well  known  to  need  commenda- 
tion “There  is  hardly  any  enterpr’ize  to  which  the  militia  of  Vermont  or 
Connecticut  would  march  with  more  zeal  than  to  crush  a servile  rebellion 
(it  such  an  event  should  ever  take  place  with  all  its  cruelties  and  horrors) 
i in  Virginia.  The  people  of  Maine  belong'  to  the  same  great  community 
\\  ith  the  people  ot  Georgia  ; and  hence  they  desire  at  once  the  right  and 
the  duty  ot  interfering  to  alleviate,  and  if  possible  to  remove  an  evil  which 
.meets the  prosperity  and  safety  ot  the  whole  American  empire”  Again; 
1 lie  beacon  fires  of  insurrection  would  only  rally  the  strength  of  the  nation, 
‘ ant*  '■be  ill  fated  Africans,  if  not  utterly  exterminated,  would  be  so  nearly 
destroyed,  that  they  must  submit  to  a bondag*e  more  hopeless  than  ever.” 
Christian  Spectator  for  October,  1823  These  sentiments,  and  others  contain- 
ed in  the  Review  referred  to,  are  enlightened,  patriotick,  noble  ; and  so  en- 
tirely harmonize  with  that  nation.* i.  feeli.ng  on  this  subject,  which  it  is  the 
design  of  the  writer  to  recommend  and  excite,  that  they  can  scarcely  fail  to 
make  a useful  impression. 


24 


If,  therefore,  I were  able  to  address,  personally,  eve- 
ry slave,  and  every  free  son  and  daughter  of  Africa , in 
the  United  States,  I would  reiterate  the  counsel  before 
given,  and  say — “ Be  obedient  to  your  Masters,  accord- 
ing to  the  flesh,  not  with  eye  service,  as  men-pleasers, 
“ but  in  singleness  of  heart,  serving  Christ.”  Be  orderly 
and  submissive.  Resort  to  no  unlawful,  or  violent  means 
to  redress  your  supposed  grievances.  Attempt  not  to 
press  yourselves  forward  into  situations  to  which  pub- 
lick  sentiment  and  custom  do  not  spontaneously  bring 
you.  Be  humble  and  patient.  Wait  the  Lord's  time. 
Study  in  all  things  to  “ adorn  the  doctrine  of  God  our 
Saviour,”  and  to  set  the  purest  Christian  example.  This 
is  the  method,  and  I will  add,  the  only  method,  in  your 
power,  of  promoting  the  great  cause  of  African  Emanci- 
pation; the  only  method  in  which  you  can  efficiently 
contribute  to  that  complete  triumph  of  this  cause  which 
must  undoubtedly  precede  the  dawn  of  millennial  glory. — 
But 

2.  While  this  subject  addresses  itself  to  the  chil- 
dren of  Africa  residing  in  our  country,  it  also  addres- 
ses itself,  in  the  most  solemn  manner,  to  every  citizen 
of  the  United  States. — 

We  are  all  of  us,  my  friends,  debtors  to  the  Africans, 
and  the  descendants  of  Africans,  whose  lot  has  been  cast, 
by  the  providence  of  God  in  the  midst  of  us.  They  are 
“bone  of  our  bone,  and  flesh  of  our  flesh:”  and  the  ob- 
ligations which  we  owe  to  them,  whether  we  acknowledge 
it  or  not,  God  will  require  at  our  hands.  I grant  that 
many  of  them  are  exceedingly  depraved,  and  are  acting 
a most  unworthy  part,  so  as  often  utterly  to  discourage 
and  disgust  their  most  zealous  friends.  But  still  this  does 
not  liberate  us  from  our  obligations.  Have  we,  then,  dis- 


25 


charged  our  duty  faithfully  to  them  ? Have  we  remind- 
ed them,  as  we  ought  to  have  done,  of  their  obligations 
to  God  as  well  as  to  us?  Have  we  constantly  endeavour- 
ed, as  we  ought  to  have  done,  to  promote  their  moral 
and  spiritual  welfare?  Have  we  taken  pains  to  cultivate 
their  minds  : to  raise  the  standard  of  their  moral  feelings 
and  principles ; and  to  lead  them  to  the  knowledge  of 
salvation  through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  ? Have  we,  in  a 
word,  conscientiously  treated  them  in  such  a manner  as 
tended  to  prepare  them  for  freedom  : that  if  ever  they 
became  free,  their  freedom  might  be  a blessing,  and  not 
a curse  ? — These,  my  respected  hearers,  are  very  seri- 
ous questions.  God  grant  that  we  may  be  able  to  answer 
them  without  sophistry,  and  without  evasion,  to  his  ac- 
ceptance, and  to  our  own  satisfaction!  It  is  impossible, 
brethren,  adequately  to  express  in  words  the  importance 
of  our  mode  of  treating  these  children  of  Africa,  who  are 
committed  to  our  care,  or  placed  within  our  reach.  The 
more  faithfully  we  endeavour  to  instruct  them,  to  chris- 
tianize them,  and  to  elevate  their  habits  and  character 
in  every  respect,  the  more  we  contribute  to  the  happy 
termination  of  African  bondage  in  every  part  of  the 
world  : the  more  certainly  and  extensively  we  shall  pro- 
mote the  happiness  of  ourselves,  our  children,  and  of  all 
with  whom  the  sons  and  daughters  of  Africa  are  direct- 
ly or  remotely  connected. 

And  while  we  labour  to  meliorate  the  character  and 
condition  of  these  degraded  people  in  our  own  country, 
let  us  all  unite  in  giving  a vigorous  and  persevering  sup- 
port to  the  plan  of  colonizing  them  in  the  land  of  their  fath- 
ers. If  this  plan  ever  succeeds,  it  must  be  prosecuted 
with  united  effort,  and  upon  a great  scale.  A feeble, 
spiritless  attempt  will  be  worse  than  useless.  A national 

D 


26 


impulse  must  be  excited,  and  the  national  strength  call- 
ed into  action.  Every  heart,  and  every  hand  must  be 
opened.  We  must  feel  that  it  is  a concern,  and  a most  in- 
teresting concern,  of  the  whole  American  family,  and 
act  accordingly.  Then,  and  not  till  then,  may  we  hope, 
under  the  Divine  blessing,  for  complete  success.  In  this 
great  cause  every  one  may  do  something ; and  every  one 
ought  to  aspire  to  the  honour  of  doing  all  that  he  is  able. 
The  evils  which  the  plan  in  question  is  intended  to  re- 
move, are  every  day  becoming  more  serious  and  formi- 
dable. Ten  years  hence,  the  means  which  might  now  suf- 
fice, will  be  altogether  inadequate.  Deeply  will  it  be 
to  be  regretted  if  we  should  hesitate  and  cavil  until  it 
shall  be  too  late  to  act ! 

The  Seminary  on  behalf  of  which  I address  you  this 
evening,  and  for  the  benefit  of  which  a Collection  is 
about  to  be  made,  is  one,  the  object  of  which  is  nearly 
connected  with  all  the  interests  for  which  I have  been 
pleading.  It  is  a Seminary  intended  to  train  up  such 
young  men  of  the  Children  of  Africa , as  may  be  of  pro- 
mising talents  and  piety,  to  be  Preachers  and  Instructors 
of  youth  among  those  of  their  own  colour,  in  the  United 
States,  and  in  the  land  of  their  Fathers.  I need  not  enlarge 
on  the  desireableness  or  the  importance  of  such  a Semi- 
nary. If  conducted  as  it  ought  to  be,  and,  under  such 
management  as  it  is  placed,  may  be  expected  to  be,  it 
can  scarcely  fail  of  being  useful,  and,  we  hope,  eminent- 
ly useful.  Would  not  every  Christian  rejoice  to  see  it 
sending  forth  a succession  of  Ministers  and  Schoolmas- 
ters, qualified  to  go  among  the  old  and  the  young  of  their 
own  colour,  throughout  our  country,  and  to  become  in- 
strumental under  the  Divine  blessing,  in  raising  their  in- 
tellectual and  moral  character?  Would  not  every  benev- 


27 


olent  mind  rejoice  to  see  it  preparing  young  heralds  of 
the  cross,  and  teachers  of  youth,  to  go  to  Africa,  to  en- 
lighten and  to  bless  that  benighted  continent,  and  even- 
tually to  become,  as  we  may  hope,  the  spiritual  fathers 
of  redeemed  millions? 

If  the  colonizing  plan  should  be  efficiently  prosecuted, 
as  I sincerely  hope  it  will  be,  then  more  pains  than  ever 
must  be  taken  to  prepare  the  emigrants  for  the  new 
and  interesting  situation  in  which  they  will  be  placed. 
Unwearied  exertions  must  be  made  to  give  them  some 
degree  of  intellectual  culture,  and  to  impart  to  them,  so 
far  as  means  can  effect  it,  a Christian  character. 
For  if  those  who  become  colonists  have  but  little  of  eith- 
er, how  can  we  expect  them  to  form  a comfortable  com- 
munity themselves,  or  to  carry  the  blessings  of  civiliza- 
tion and  Christianity  to  the  African  world?  Besides  all 
the  advantages  of  it  at  home,  then,  an  Institution  like 
that  which  we  are  called  to  patronize,  seem  to  be  an  es- 
sential handmaid  to  the  plan  of  colonization. 

I am  instructed  to  say,  that  this  Seminary  is  languish- 
ing for  want  of  more  ample  means  of  support ; and  that 
without  some  efficient  aid,  it  cannot  be  expected  much 
longer  to  live,  and  far  less  to  flourish,  and  to  yield  those 
important  benefits  which  we  all  earnestly  desire.  On  the 
publick  bounty,  from  year  to  year,  it  is  entirely,  under 
God,  dependent.  Let  not  its  existence  be  a course  of  per- 
petual languishment.  Either  abolish  it  altogether;  or 
support  it  as  becomes  American  citizens,  who  sincere- 
ly wish  well  to  our  beloved  country  ; as  becomes  benev- 
olent men,  who  feel  in  good  earnest  for  the  wrongs  cf 
Africa;  and  as  becomes  the  disciples  of  Jesus  Christ, 
who  really  desire  to  see  the  blessings  of  salvation  sent 
to  every  portion  of  the  world. — My  Friends,  to  your 


28 


Christian  judgment,  and  your  Christian  feelings  I make 
the  solemn  appeal.  Will  you  abolish  it?  Will  you  suffer 
it  to  die  ? Nay,  will  you  suffer  it  to  languish  ? Is  this  a 
time  to  relax  our  exertions  on  behalf  of  the  children  of 
Africa , when  the  aspect  of  their  affairs  is  so  interesting, 
so  portentous,  in  our  own  country,  and  in  other  parts  of 
the  world?  Is  this  a time  to  suffer  such  a Seminary  to 
perish,  when  we  need,  more  than  ever,  a large  number 
of  such  young  men  as  it  is  intended  to  rear?  Rather  let 
us  engage  in  its  support  with  new  zeal,  and  with  growing 
affection ; and  strive  to  make  it,  what  it  ought  to  be, 
and,  under  the  Divine  blessing,  may  be  made,  a “Foun- 
tain,” the  “streams  of  which  shall  make  glad  the  city  of 
“ our  God.”  May  the  King  of  Zion,  of  his  infinite  mer- 
cy, bless  it,  and  make  it  to  prosper!  and  to  Father.  Son 
and  Holy  Spirit  be  glory  forever! 

Amen  ! 


